"Vladimir Vasiliev (dancer) Vladimir Viktorovich Vasiliev (Russian: Влади́мир Ви́кторович Васи́льев), (born April 18, 1940) is a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer from Moscow, Russia. He was a principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet and its director from 1995 to 2000. He was best known for his role of Spartacus and his powerful leaps and turns. Vladimir Vasiliev was named ""God of the dance"" and is regarded as a classical dancer on the same level as Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov. At the height of their careers, Vladimir Vasiliev and Ekaterina Maximova were the golden couple of Russian ballet. Vladimir Vasiliev"
"Alexei Ratmansky Alexei Osipovich Ratmansky (, born August 27, 1968 in Leningrad) is a Russian-American choreographer and former ballet dancer. As of April 2014 he is the artist in residence at the American Ballet Theatre. From 2004 to 2008 he was the director of the Bolshoi Ballet. Ratmansky was born in St. Petersburg and trained under Pyotr Pestov and Alexandra Markeyeva at the Bolshoi Ballet School. He graduated in 1986. He then danced in Kiev and was a principal dancer with the Ukrainian National Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Royal Danish Ballet. Ratmansky's choreographic career first became notable with his"
"Lucia Chase Lucia Chase (24 March 1897 in Waterbury, Connecticut – 9 January 1986 in New York City, United States) was an American dancer, actress, ballet director and also the co-founder of the American Ballet Theatre. She studied drama at New York's Theater Guild School where she also took ballet lessons. Though her first love was the theatre, after she decided that dance was to be her life, she studied seriously with Mikhail Mordkin, Michel Fokine, Antony Tudor, Anatole Vilzak, and Bronislava Nijinska. She performed with the Mordkin Ballet from 1937 to 1939, where she danced the title roles in"
"by her son Alex C. Ewing, was released. Lucia Chase Lucia Chase (24 March 1897 in Waterbury, Connecticut – 9 January 1986 in New York City, United States) was an American dancer, actress, ballet director and also the co-founder of the American Ballet Theatre. She studied drama at New York's Theater Guild School where she also took ballet lessons. Though her first love was the theatre, after she decided that dance was to be her life, she studied seriously with Mikhail Mordkin, Michel Fokine, Antony Tudor, Anatole Vilzak, and Bronislava Nijinska. She performed with the Mordkin Ballet from 1937 to"
"Bolshoi Ballet, Moscow, January 1991, as part of their centenary celebration of Serge Prokofiev. Mikhail Baryshnikov asked him in 1984 to join American Ballet Theatre as associate director. John Taras John Taras (April 18, 1919 – April 2, 2004) was a prominent American ballet master and choreographer. Born on the Lower East Side of New York City to Ukrainian parents, he was sent at age 16 to study ballet with Michel Fokine, Anatole Vilzak, Pierre Vladimiroff and Ludmila Shollar, and later to the School of American Ballet. He first appeared professionally with Opera on Tour for which Fokine arranged dance."
"recently retired from this position, turning the studio over to the direction of Vincent Cuny. Magali Messac Magali Messac, a European/American ballet dancer, was born and raised in the south of France, where she received her early training from Olga and Henry Taneeff. In 1969, the age of seventeen, she joined the Hamburg Ballet, and four years later, was promoted to principal dancer. That year, she received the Oberdorfer Culture Award for the most talented young artist. In 1978, she came to the United States as a principal dancer for the Pennsylvania Ballet, and in 1980, was invited by Mikhail"
"Plisetskaya was honored on numerous occasions for her skills: Maya Plisetskaya Maya Mikhailovna Plisetskaya (; 20 November 1925 – 2 May 2015) was a Soviet ballet dancer, choreographer, ballet director, and actress, who held in post-Soviet times Spanish and Lithuanian citizenship. She danced during the Soviet era at the Bolshoi Theatre under the directorships of Leonid Lavrovsky, then of Yury Grigorovich; later she moved into direct confrontation with him. In 1960 when Galina Ulanova, another famed Russian ballerina retired, Plisetskaya became prima ballerina assoluta of the company. Her early years were marked by political repression. Her father Mikhail Plisetski who"
"He is currently director of the Yerevan Choreographic College. Vilen Galstyan Vilen Galstyan (, born 1941) is an Armenian ballet dancer and actor who was popular in the former U.S.S.R. and especially in Armenia. He is awarded by the ""People's Artist of Armenia"" honorary title. Vilen Galstyan is a professional ballet dancer and choreographer. He was the head of the Armenian Spendiaryan Academic Theater's ballet in 1980s. He was also the lead ballet dancer of the same theater. He appeared in over 60 films during his 40-year career, which started in the late 1950s. His most famous starring role is"
"Mille Dance Theatre and made occasional guest appearances with American Ballet Theatre. She also worked with the modern dance choreographer Pauline Koner. In the early 1960s, Franklin moved to her husband Gustavo Franklin's native Venezuela, where they established the Ballet Arte School in Caracas. She turned 100 on May 17, 2017. Lidija Franklin Lidija Franklin (née Kocers; born May 17, 1917) is a dancer and teacher of Latvian descent, originally from the Moscow area. In the United States, she is known primarily for her association with Agnes de Mille. Franklin (née Kocers) performed with the Jooss Ballet until the early"
"financial issues. During the 1960s and 1970s, the company's prospects brightened due to more favorable private funding. During this period, American Ballet Theatre shifted its ballet focus to the recruitment of star performers. In 1977, the company began its spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House, its new official venue. Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1980 became Artistic Director for American Ballet Theatre. Baryshnikov staged, restaged, and refurbished numerous classical ballets and, according to the company, strengthened their classical tradition. Baryshnikov was replaced in 1989 by Jane Hermann and Oliver Smith, who remained as Artistic Directors until 1992, when Kevin McKenzie received"
"Maya Plisetskaya Maya Mikhailovna Plisetskaya (; 20 November 1925 – 2 May 2015) was a Soviet ballet dancer, choreographer, ballet director, and actress, who held in post-Soviet times Spanish and Lithuanian citizenship. She danced during the Soviet era at the Bolshoi Theatre under the directorships of Leonid Lavrovsky, then of Yury Grigorovich; later she moved into direct confrontation with him. In 1960 when Galina Ulanova, another famed Russian ballerina retired, Plisetskaya became prima ballerina assoluta of the company. Her early years were marked by political repression. Her father Mikhail Plisetski who was a Soviet official, has been arrested in 1937"
"Asaf Messerer Asaf Mikhailovich Messerer (Russian: Асаф Михайлович Мессерер, November 19, 1903 - March 7, 1992) was a Lithuanian Jewish and Soviet ballet dancer and ballet teacher. He was born in Vilnius, Lithuania. From 1919 until 1921 he trained as a dancer at the Bolshoi Ballet School under Mikhail Mordkin. He then joined the Bolshoi Theatre, where he became a successful soloist, eventually becoming their chief soloist, a post he retired from in 1954. Today Messerer is best remembered as a choreographer and an instructor; he was both the choreographer and ballet master for the Bolshoi Theatre. His book ""Classes"
"Magali Messac Magali Messac, a European/American ballet dancer, was born and raised in the south of France, where she received her early training from Olga and Henry Taneeff. In 1969, the age of seventeen, she joined the Hamburg Ballet, and four years later, was promoted to principal dancer. That year, she received the Oberdorfer Culture Award for the most talented young artist. In 1978, she came to the United States as a principal dancer for the Pennsylvania Ballet, and in 1980, was invited by Mikhail Baryshnikov to join American Ballet Theatre as one of their principal ballerinas. Ms. Messac finished"
"Mikhail Baryshnikov Mikhail Nikolayevich Baryshnikov (; ; born January 27, 1948), nicknamed ""Misha"" (Russian diminutive of the name ""Mikhail""), is a Latvian-born Russian and American dancer, choreographer, and actor. He is often cited alongside Vaslav Nijinsky, Rudolf Nureyev and Vladimir Vasiliev as one of the greatest male ballet dancers in history. After a promising start in the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, Baryshnikov defected to Canada in 1974 for more opportunities in western dance. After freelancing with many companies, he joined the New York City Ballet as a principal dancer to learn George Balanchine's style of movement. He then danced with"
"(Adam), Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Francesca da Rimini, Sleeping Beauty (Tchaikovsky), The Life (Dvorak's Symphony No.9), Coppelia (Delibes), Atlantis (Janis Ivanovs), Concerto Grosso (Arturs Maskats), as well as ballet miniatures (Award of the Best Choreographer in Budapest '98); dances for Verdi's opera Aida and Zigmars Liepins' opera Rose and Blood; has represented Latvian art in more than 40 countries including the USA, France, China, Great Britain. Aivars Leimanis Aivars Leimanis was a Latvian ballet dancer and is now the Artistic Director of Latvia’s National Ballet. His daughter is the ballet dancer, Elza Leimane. From 1968-1976, he trained at the Riga"
"Eglė Špokaitė Eglė Špokaitė (born 1971 in Vilnius) is a Lithuanian ballet dancer, most notably a Principal Ballerina for the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre (1989–2011) and the only ballet dancer on the List of Famous Lithuanians. She co-founded the Egle Špokaitė Ballet School in Vilnius, Lithuania (2008), where she also served as artistic director. In the United States, she founded the Ballet Institute of San Diego dance school (2016). Špokaitė is also a choreographer, actress, and public speaker. She's the winner of the Lithuanian National Prize, as well as numerous other awards and honors. She lives and works"
"fellow Latvian dancer. Elza Leimane Elza Leimane (born 2 July 1984) is a Latvian ballet dancer. She graduated from the Riga Choreography School in 2001 and has been a member of the Latvian National Ballet Company since her graduation. She has been a principal dancer with the company since 2004. Elza has had additional ballet training from the Paris Conservatoire (1999), Anaheim Ballet summer courses, USA (1999), International Batrolin Ballet seminar (2002 and 2003), Vienna Conservatory summer courses (2000), the St Petersburg Ballet Company, Maryinsky Theatre and Hamburg Ballet. She was a member of the European Youth Ballet in 2000,"
"survived by his wife, two daughters and a granddaughter. Ivan Nagy (dancer) Ivan Nagy (28 April 194322 February 2014) was a Hungarian ballet dancer. He became one of American Ballet Theatre's most popular stars in the 1970s as an acclaimed partner to great ballerinas. Nagy was born in Debrecen, Hungary on 28 April 1943. He was trained in Budapest by Soviet-influenced teachers before he defected to the United States in 1965. He was sent to the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, where he won a silver medal. Nagy met his wife, the Australian ballerina Marilyn Burr, at the National"
"in the rôle of Solor. Patrick Bissell Walter Patrick Bissell (December 1, 1957 – December 29, 1987) was an American danseur. He was a leading principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. On his death at age 30 from a drug overdose, he was described by the artistic director of the American Ballet Theatre and personal ballet eminence Mikhail Baryshnikov as ""without a doubt one of the brightest lights in American Ballet Theater's history, or, for that matter, in the entire ballet world"". Bissell was noted for his height and athleticism. His most famous rôle was as Solor in ""La"
"Ruth Sobotka Ruth A. Sobotka (September 4, 1925 – June 17, 1967) was an Austrian-born American dancer, costume designer, art director, painter, and actress. The daughter of prominent Austrian architect and interior designer, Walter Sobotka (1888–1972) and Viennese actress, Gisela Schönau, Ruth Sobotka immigrated to the United States from Vienna with her parents in 1938. She studied set design at The University of Pennsylvania and graduated from the Carnegie Institute of Technology. After studying at the School of American Ballet, Sobotka became a member of George Balanchine's Ballet Society (1946–1948) and its successor the New York City Ballet from 1949"
"principal dancer. They have a daughter, Emma Galina, born in 2005. Irina Dvorovenko Irina Vladimirovna Dvorovenko (; ; born 28 August 1973) is a Ukrainian American actress and former principal ballet dancer with the American Ballet Theatre in New York. Dvorovenko was born in Kiev, Ukraine during the Soviet period. She began her ballet training at the age of 10 at the Kiev Ballet School. She joined the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Kiev in 1990 as a soloist, rising to the rank of principal dancer in 1992. Her repertoire with that company included Gamzatti in ""La Bayadère"", the"
"the United States and Canada for 24 weeks with a revival of the Broadway musical ""The King and I"". A feature film about his life is to be released in 2019 under the title ""The White Crow."" Rudolf Nureyev Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev ( , ; 17 March 1938 – 6 January 1993) was a Soviet ballet and contemporary dancer and choreographer. He was director of the Paris Opera Ballet from 1983 to 1989 and its chief choreographer until October 1992. Named Lord of the Dance, Nureyev is widely regarded as the greatest male ballet dancer of his generation. In addition"
"George Zoritch George Zoritch (6 June 1917 – 1 November 2009), was a Russian-born American ballet dancer who starred in performances by Ballet Russe companies on stages all over the United States from the 1930s to the 1960s. Internationally known, he was one of the most glamorous figures and striking personalities in mid-twentieth-century ballet. Born Yuri Zoritch in Moscow during the Russian Revolution in June 1917, he was taken by his mother, an opera singer who had been deserted by her husband, to the quieter city of Kovno (Kaunas), the provisional capital of Lithuania. Known as ""Little Paris"" because of"
"Krzysztof Pastor Krzysztof Pastor (born 17 December 1956 in Gdańsk, Poland) is a Polish dancer, choreographer and ballet director. He was resident choreographer with the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam from 2003 to 2017, director of the Polish National Ballet in Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera in Warsaw since 2009 and at the same time since 2011 an artistic director of the ballet of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Vilnius. Krzysztof Pastor was born in Gdańsk to a family of doctors - Jan and Leokadia Pastor. He trained with State Ballet School in Gdańsk 1966-1975. After"
"Ivan Nagy (dancer) Ivan Nagy (28 April 194322 February 2014) was a Hungarian ballet dancer. He became one of American Ballet Theatre's most popular stars in the 1970s as an acclaimed partner to great ballerinas. Nagy was born in Debrecen, Hungary on 28 April 1943. He was trained in Budapest by Soviet-influenced teachers before he defected to the United States in 1965. He was sent to the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, where he won a silver medal. Nagy met his wife, the Australian ballerina Marilyn Burr, at the National Ballet. After three years with the National Ballet, Nagy"
"of the ballet were: Ahmet Brahimaj, Rustem Selca, Elez Nikçi, Shqiptar Hoxha, Asma Mulla, Selajdin Kice, Gani Loshi, Jonuz Beqiraj, Hysen Podrimçaku, Rustem Bajrami, Rustem Metaj, Isa Bajraktari, Gani Shala, Skender Domniku, Shaban Shabanaj and Enver Berisha. Abdurrahman Nokshiqi was named director. Later, 5 female ballet dancers from Skopje joined the troupe (Nexhmije Meha Selca, Sabrije Spahiu Shkreli), as well as two ballet dancers from Kosovo (Enver Elshani and Jashar Berisha). The ballet has performed many successful shows, both modern and classical. After the ballet was reestablished, the troupe worked very closely with Albanian choreographer Gjergj Prevazi. Together they managed"
"Juliet proved to be immensely popular, and the ballet was filmed for cinema release. Vlastimil Harapes became artistic director in 1990, and since that time, the company has expanded its repertoire to include ""a modern type of full-length epic ballet"", for example, Little Mr. Friedeman and Psycho (1993, 2000), Tchaikovsky (1994), Coppelia (1995), Isadora Duncan (1998), Some Like It… (1994, 2001) and Mowgli for Children (1996). The company's choreographer, Vladimir Lípor, has been key to these new productions. During the early 20th century, the company has staged works choreographed by Jiří Kylián, John Cranko and Glen Tetley. Formal ballet education"
"and other leading companies around the world. Helgi Tómasson (dancer) Helgi Tomasson (born October 8, 1942) is artistic director and principal choreographer for San Francisco Ballet, and a former professional ballet dancer. Since assuming leadership of San Francisco Ballet, he has helped transform the company from a respected regional troupe to one of the world's great classical ballet companies. He is originally from Iceland. Tomasson was born in Vestmannaeyjar Iceland to Tómas Bergur Snorrason and Dagmar Helgadóttir. He began his ballet training in Reykjavik with a local teacher and went on to join the National Theatre’s affiliated school, which at"
"Aivars Leimanis Aivars Leimanis was a Latvian ballet dancer and is now the Artistic Director of Latvia’s National Ballet. His daughter is the ballet dancer, Elza Leimane. From 1968-1976, he trained at the Riga School of Choreography. From 1978-1980, he taught at the Riga Choreography School. After graduating, Aivars Leimanis became a soloist in the Ballet Company of the Latvian National Opera. He has danced the leading roles in such ballets as the ""Nutcracker"", ""Giselle"" ""Don Quixote"", and ""The Sleeping Beauty"". From 1989-1993, he danced in the Star Group of Vladimir Vasilyev and Yekaterina Maksimova. In 1993, he retired from"
"as he applied sheet rock and dry wall in his newly-found occupation as an internal carpenter and transfer warehouse worker. Rūdolfs Saule died in 1975 from leukemia, having spent his days in the presence of asbestos, as he applied sheet rock and dry wall as an internal carpenter. He was survived by his wife Dzidra Sandra Saule (née Erikson) and their three children. Dzidra Saule resides in Central Minnesota. Rūdolfs Saule Rūdolfs Saule (27 January 1903, Vidzeme – 16 March 1975, Chicago) was a Latvian performer, professional actor, ballet master and artist. He performed widely for the Latvian National Ballet,"
"Julie Kent (dancer) Julie Kent (born 1969) is an American ballet dancer; she was a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre from 1993 to June 2015. Her farewell role was Juliet (in Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet). In 2016, she was named the artistic director of The Washington Ballet. She was born Julie Cox in Bethesda, Maryland, to an American father and a mother from New Zealand who was a flight attendant and a former ballet dancer. Her early dance training took place under Hortensia Fonseca at the Academy of the Maryland Youth Ballet. She also studied at the American"
"Altin Kaftira Altin Kaftira (born 1972 in Albania) is a former danseur with the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He danced with the Ballet from 1995 on, and from 2000 to 2007 was the Ballet's principal dancer (working with choreographers such as Hans van Manen, Rudi van Dantzig, Jerome Robbins, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon and Ted Brandsen), and has danced in almost a dozen George Balanchine ballets. In 2007, he left to pursue a career as a filmmaker. One of his first film assignments was the production and direction of the 75th anniversary gala for Hans van Manen. In"
"Serge Lifar Serge Lifar (, ""Serhіy Mуkhailovуch Lуfar""; , ""Sergey Mikhaylovich Lifar"") (, Kiev, Russian Empire15 December 1986, Lausanne, Switzerland) was a French ballet dancer and choreographer of Ukrainian origin, famous as one of the greatest male ballet dancers of the 20th century. Not only a dancer, Lifar was also a choreographer, director, writer, theoretician about dance, and collector. As ballet master of the Paris Opera from 1930 to 1944, and from 1947 to 1958, he devoted himself to the restoration of the technical level of the Paris Opera Ballet, returning it to its place as one of the best"